Posted by Marla 12/14/2001 10:52 am

1 cup Crisco
1 cup granulated sugar
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
2 teaspoons orange juice
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
2 1/4 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Frosting
2 cups powdered sugar
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
2 teaspoons orange juice

Cream Crisco, sugar and cream cheese. Add eggs, 1 at a time; orange juice; and orange rind. Add the flour and salt. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by the tablespoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on a rack before frosting.

For the Frosting: Combine the powdered sugar, cream cheese, orange rind and juice until it is of spreading consistency.

Yield: 3 dozen.

NOTE: Try drizzling melted chocolate over the cookies.